Driving the Golden Circle in Iceland

The Golden Circle is one of Iceland’s most famous road trip routes with a bit of almost everything the country is famous for along the way.

You’ve got geothermal wonders, iconic waterfalls, great little detours, and a whole lot of “wow” moments packed into a single loop.

It’s a great introduction to Iceland, whether you’re visiting on a quick Reykjavík stopover or beginning a road trip like we did.

We drove the Golden Circle on our first full day in the camper van, and it set the tone beautifully for the rest of our trip.

This guide covers everywhere we stopped, plus a handful of extras worth considering if you have time. I’ve also included accommodation and day trip suggestions to make planning even easier.

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What Is the Golden Circle?

The Golden Circle is a 230-ish kilometre loop east of Reykjavík. Most guides highlight three main stops:

• Þingvellir National Park
• Geysir Geothermal Field
• Gullfoss Waterfall

They’re all amazing, but the real joy comes from the little detours along the way — the waterfalls, farms, hot springs and quirky stops that make the day feel full without being rushed.

This post takes you through the route exactly as we did it. Sadly we did not get to Þingvellir National Park as we were coming from Selfoss and ran out of time – but it’s high on my list for my next visit to Ieland.

Laugarvatn Geothermal Area

Laugarvatn is a great first stop. Steam rises out of the ground, there’s a strong geothermal smell – you know, rotten eggs – in the air, and you’ll spot the mounds where locals bake bread using the warmth of the earth.

We weren’t there during opening hours, but if your timing works, I think the Fontana Geothermal Baths and their bread-baking tour would be a fun activity.

Brúarfoss (plus Midfoss & Hlauptungufoss)

Brúarfoss was our first waterfall of the trip, and what an introduction. There was no “saving the best until last” here – we many just have seen it first.

We parked in the carpark on the western side of the falls (Cost: 836kr on the Parka app) and had a short walk to Brúarfoss.

We then crossed the bridge and followed along the river to Hlauptungufoss, passing Midfoss on the way.

It was probably about a 3km round trip along a muddy, rocky, but easy path. I recommend good shoes for this walk.

Geysir Geothermal Field

This geothermal area is scattered with geysirs, steam and bubbling mud.

Strokkur is the star, erupting every 8–10 minutes and shooting water high into the air. Every eruption drew a collective gasp from the crowd.

The original Geysir sits nearby, now mostly dormant but still steaming away. It’s worth wandering the paths to see the bubbling pools and shifting landscape up close.

Bru Horse Farm

This is a quick, wholesome stop not too far before Gullfoss. Icelandic horses are beautiful – small, sturdy, photogenic, and incredibly friendly.

At Bru Horse Farm you can feed them “horse candy” or simply enjoy watching them up close.

It’s free to visit, and it only takes a few minutes.

Gullfoss

Gullfoss is powerful, loud and every bit as impressive as the photos suggest.

The double cascade drops into a deep canyon and you can explore several viewing platforms to see it from different angles.

You may get damp thanks to the spray, even when the weather is good, so consider a waterproof jacket.

There’s a café, toilets and a visitor centre here too – which I recommend you take advantage of as Iceland’s facilities aren’t always predictable. Parking here is free.

Gullfoss can get busy, so if you can get there earlier or later in the day the crowds will likely be less.

Friðheimar

Even though I couldn’t get a reservation at the restaurant (they book out weeks in advance), I still wanted to pop in.

Luckily, the bar area serves tomato soup without needing a booking, so we still got to try the famous Friðheimar tomato soup.

Sitting inside the greenhouse while people eat surrounded by tomato vines is a pretty unique experience. If you can get a reservation, go for it. If not, the bar is a great backup.

Skálholt Cathedral

We arrived just as a wedding finished, which made this stop feel extra special.

Skálholt is one of Iceland’s most important historic religious sites, but the current cathedral was only built in 1956. Apparently it has striking stained-glass windows – but we didn’t get to go inside.

There is a small but interesting museum below the cathedral that’s worth a quick look too, and ruins surrounding it showcasing the history of the site.

It’s an easy, peaceful stop that doesn’t take long.

Kerið Crater

Kerið is a volcanic crater with a small lake at the bottom and a walking path around the rim. You can also walk down to the water’s edge.

The colours here change with the light and it reminded me of a smaller version of the Blue Lake in Mount Gambier.

While parking was free there was a small entry fee of 600kr, so worth having some card or cash handy.

Other Stops You Can Add

While the above took us a full day, if you’re spreading the Golden Circle over a longer day, or even more than a day, these additions are popular:

• Þingvellir National Park for tectonic plates, waterfalls and Icelandic history
• Secret Lagoon in Flúðir for a relaxing geothermal soak
• Reykjadalur Hot Spring River for those who enjoy a longer walk
• Faxi Waterfall for a quieter alternative to the headline waterfalls

Where to Stay Near the Golden Circle

If you want to spread your Golden Cirlce explorations over two days or you’re not returning to Reykjavik, you’ve got a few great accommodation options depending on your route.

We stayed in Selfoss the night before after picking up our camper van near the airport. We went on to stay at Hvolsvöllur the next night to get a little further along the ring road.

You can see details of all our campgrounds here.

Othewise, here are a few more options.

Selfoss

A practical base with supermarkets, restaurants and fuel – ideal if you’re driving the south coast the next day.
Popular picks:

• Hotel South Coast – modern and central
• Guesthouse Lambastadir – family-run with friendly animals

Hvolsvöllur

Handy if you’re continuing to the waterfalls of the south the following morning.
Options include:

• Hotel Rangá – well-known luxury stay for northern lights watching
• Hotel Hvolsvöllur – comfortable, convenient and close to town amenities

Flúðir

A good stop if you’re combining the Golden Circle with the Secret Lagoon.

• The Hill Guesthouse – warm, welcoming stay with spacious rooms and great views over the Flúðir countryside
• Garður Stay Inn – simple, budget-friendly stay with access to the Secret Lagoon included

How to Explore the Golden Circle

There are two main ways to explore the Golden Circle – hiring a car and doing it yourself, or joining a day tour from Reykjavík.

Both options work well, and it really depends on how much flexibility you want.

Hiring a Car and Driving Yourself

This is how we did it (although with a camper van, which is another option), and it’s a brilliant way to explore at your own pace.

The roads on the Golden Circle are sealed and easy to navigate, and having a car means you can linger at the quieter spots, add detours like the Secret Lagoon, and avoid tour groups by starting early or late.

If you’re planning a longer road trip around Iceland, collecting your car at the airport and tackling the Golden Circle first feels very natural.

You can compare prices and book a car here

Exploring the Golden Circle on a Day Tour

If you don’t feel like driving, or you’re short on time, a day tour is an easy, stress-free way to see everything.

Tours usually include Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, with some adding extra stops like Friðheimar or the Secret Lagoon.

The bonus? You don’t need to think about navigation, weather conditions or where to park.

A few popular options:

• Classic Golden Circle Day Tour
• Golden Circle + Secret Lagoon
• Golden Circle + Friðheimar

Most tours run for 7–9 hours, making them ideal for short stays or Reykjavík-based travellers.

Suggested Golden Circle Itineraries

When deciding on where you would like to go, take into consideration you interests and what you would like to do at each place.

Here are some ideas to get you started

One-Day Classic

Þingvellir → Geysir → Gullfoss → Skálholt → Kerið

One-Day Expanded

Laugarvatn → Brúarfoss → Geysir → Bru Horse Farm → Gullfoss → Friðheimar → Kerið

Two-Day Relaxed

Day 1: Þingvellir, Laugarvatn, Brúarfoss
Day 2: Geysir, Bru Horse Farm, Gullfoss, Friðheimar, Kerið, Secret Lagoon

Golden Circle Travel Tips

• Start early to avoid the tour buses.
• Bring waterproof layers even if the sky looks clear – the weather changes fast.
• Good shoes make waterfall walks much easier.
• Most toilets on this route are paid or attached to cafés, so don’t rely on random stops.
• Snacks help, especially if you’re doing the Brúarfoss walk or driving long stretches.
• Parking fees pop up at a few sites, so keep a little buffer in your budget.

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Our Golden Circle day was the perfect start to our Iceland road trip.

It balanced iconic sights with quieter moments and gave us a real taste of what the rest of the country had in store.

You can make the loop as busy or as relaxed as you like, and it’s a brilliant introduction to Iceland’s nature, history and landscapes.

If you’re piecing together a longer trip, I’ve also written about our full Iceland itinerary, waterfalls, what I wished I hadn’t missed and more to help you plan.